FAQs

Specialist LINK is a critical link in the chain of patient care. This is a telephone advice line that family doctors can use to contact a specialist for advice about a patient in real time. Specialists can now also use this line to call other specialists regarding patient care. Specialists will return a doctor’s call within one hour. This quick response enhances the ability to manage a patient in the family physician’s office with close support from specialty care. The link also provides an opportunity to receive collegial advice, education and mutual support.

It is available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. excluding statutory holidays. Specialist LINK provides support for family physicians during regular business hours, when patients are most likely to be seen in their doctor's office.

Call Local: 403.910.2551 or toll free 1.844.962.5465. Your call will be connected to the specialists of your choice cell phone or pager and prompted to leave your phone number. Your call will be returned within one hour. If you experience any difficulties, please dial #0 and your call will be redirected to support staff.

Family physicians will be connected via a programmed call-forwarding service. The inbound call is forwarded directly to a pager and in some occasions a cell phone. For specialists who use the pager system, the Specialist LINK code will be seen on the display: “51-” followed by the direct call back number of the physician calling. This will direct the specialist to return the call within one hour.

If you have trouble connecting to a specialist, try re-dialing 403.910.2551 or toll free 1.844.962.5465, dial #0 and your call will be redirected to support staff. You can also contact the Specialist LINK administrator directly at 587.774.9739 or Calgary Foothills PCN Program Manager at 403.618.9372 or SpecialistLink@cfpcn.ca.

No. Specialist LINK is not intended for information on referral status. If there is new information to support the referral or questions about triage status, please connect directly with Central Access and Triage.

Be sure to provide a direct telephone number, so you know the specialist can reach you directly (ie. cell or clinic back door number). Please do not provide us with a clinic number when your clinic is closed, including lunch or other times.

Family doctors can seek advice from the specialist about any questions or concerns. For example, if you have a patient in front of you and there are red flags that concern you, or the patient has not improved in the last six months – call the line. You may also need help with system navigation issues, or you simply need some reassurance.

The specialist can support you with advice on diagnostic testing, general management, therapeutics or other clinical questions. The length of calls varies between five to 10 minutes. The specialist will not confirm a diagnosis. They can discuss best-fit diagnoses and support you with a care plan.

Yes. Specialist LINK is meant to provide support for primary care givers. It is important to keep in mind the communication channels and ensure decisions regarding care are communicated through the primary care giver - either the family doctor or the nurse practitioner.

If you have any questions or experience any challenges with the phone advice line, you can contact the Specialist LINK administrator at 587.774.9739, Calgary Foothills PCN Program Manager at 403.618.9372 or SpecialistLink@cfpcn.ca.

In the Calgary area, there are now two great ways to get timely non-urgent advice for your patient. Call Specialist LINK for a response within one hour, or submit an Alberta Netcare eReferral Advice Request and receive a response within five calendar days.

Contact Us

For all other questions or enquiries, including technical issues, contact the Specialist LINK administrator at 587.774.9740 (Calgary Foothills PCN), or the PCN Program Manager at 403.618.9372 or specialistlink [at] cfpcn [dot] ca